Overview
We
could just say "If you can hear it we can measure it", and that would
be true. But many people call us with problems that they are afraid no
one has ever encountered before; noises that seem too unusual or
intermittent to be measured. We've added this page to our site to show
people with such problems that their situation is not unique.

See also: We Get Letters, a collection of actual questions that have come in on our web site.

These units are a common source of
complaints. We serve as consultants for owners of equipment who have
received complaints or violations. We also suggest solutions to owners
when we work for neighbors affected by the noise. Most of our jobs in
this area involve correcting installation mistakes and soundproofing
blunders. If a Building Code violation exists we can pinpoint it
and include photos in our report.

We do not do surveys of Aircraft noise,
but we can recommend specialists if you like.

Architects

We often work with architects, some of whom hire us on behalf of their clients. Buildings often require an acoustic consultant's report before they will approve a renovation. See Services for Architects

Animal & Pet Noise

Outdoor dog runs, kennels, neighbors'
pets.

Bar Noise

Noise from live and recorded music, noisy
patrons on the street, ventilation and cooking equipment. Building a bar or lounge? Call us first. Taking the proper steps during the initial construction can save a great deal of money and trouble in the future.

The lower frequencies or "bass" is the
part of musical sound that most often penetrates into neighboring living spaces
from nightclubs and loud stereos. Unfortunately, the DEP generally uses meters that do not accurately measure these frequencies

We can measure traffic noise of all
kinds, short
term or long term. This can be especially useful to developers seeking
to show that special district designation is unnecessary, which can save a great deal in construction costs.

Such facilities frequently have rooms that are used for public gatherings such as weddings, dances and other parties. Live music and DJs can disturb nearby residences. Some church services involve lively music and singing as well. The large indoor spaces typical of houses of worship often have acoustic problems due to excess reverberation, which make them sound overly noisy and make speech hard to understand.

Club Noise

Noise from live and recorded music, noisy
patrons on the street, ventilation and cooking equipment.Building a new club? It's an expensive proposition. Don't risk noise violations that may require you to close down for extensive rebuilding. Attention to proper soundproofing design in the planning stage can save a great deal of money and trouble later. We can also appear on your behalf before Community Boards and the State Liquor Authority.

We have worked on both sides of this
issue, helping design gyms and
similar facilities to avoid problems with their neighbors and in one
case, getting a gymnastics school closed due to interference with a
recording studio in the same building.

Decibel, (dB) Decibel Test

The decibel is a unit used to measure sound. There are many different ways to use a sound meter: one kind of reading can give a different number than another. An improper measurement method can de-emphasize or over-emphasize the sound reading. Sometimes the wrong method is used out of ignorance or for lack of the proper equipment, other times to deliberately skew the results. We hear of people being told that “the noise level is within legal limits”, when a proper measurement would show a violation. If a noise is loud enough that other people besides you find it annoying, it is usually in violation of some section of the law. You'll need a consultant who knows how to spot such errors, especially in an adversarial situation

The DEP inspectors do not yet have the more sophisticated meters that are necessary to properly enforce all the provisions of the new Noise Code. The DEP told you your noise problem is not a violation? They may be wrong.

One of our clients had a neighbor who played conga drums, and in fact taught percussion in her apartment. As the noise was unpredictable, we set up our calibrated recording system to capture the disturbance when it happened.

We have worked on both sides of this
issue, helping design gyms and
similar facilities to avoid problems with their neighbors and, in one
case, getting a gymnastics school closed due to interference with a
recording studio in the same building.

These are attractive amenity for building residents, except for those who live close to a facility that was installed without proper attention to noise and vibration issues. Treadmills whir and thump with each footstep. Free weights are dropped on the floor. Adjustable weights in exercise machines clang together with each "rep".

One job involved a dispute between a
shooting range and its residential neighbors

Gym Noise

We have worked on both sides of this
issue,
helping design gyms and similar facilities to avoid problems with their
neighbors and in one case, getting a gymnastics school closed due to
interference with a recording studio in the same building.

Harassment

We can set up long term monitoring and/or
audio
recording to catch intermittent deliberate noise. Expert witness
testimony and calibrated playback of the recordings in court are
available.

A hum, frequently caused by mechanical equipment, is an example of a "pure tone", a sound that is composed primarily of a single frequency or pitch. Such sounds are considered particularly disturbing. They are frequently the result of improper equipment installation. We can measure the noise and recommend solutions.

This is another building amenity that can be good for everyone except the residents of adjoining apartments. Improper equipment installation and poorly built partitions can transmit machine noise at unreasonable levels into nearby dwelling units. As these facilities typically offer "convenient" (read: "Early" and "Late") hours, the disturbance can be hard to live with.

We have worked on both sides of this
issue, helping design gyms and
similar facilities to avoid problems with their neighbors and in one
case, getting a gymnastics school closed due to interference with a
recording studio in the same building.

Music

We recommend appropriate soundproofing
and sound quality solutions for commercial music establishments.

It is best to get the cooperation of your
neighbors if you want to have us test to determine the right
soundproofing. If you're not on speaking terms, we can still help,
including by recording the offending sounds, even late at night or at
unpredictable times. These recordings can be powerful legal evidence.

Night clubs and their neighbors are
frequently at odds due to noise. We work for night clubs to help them
avoid problems with their neighbors and also for residents and
businesses that are affected by a noisy establishment. It is our
preference to solve the problem to the satisfaction of all parties
through proper sound isolation, sound system redesign and the use of
electronic limiters. In situations where the parties resort to legal
action we can provide Expert Witness Testimony.

Whether it's a bass beat, a motor hum or the irregular thumping of the kids upstairs, people just want it to end. That's what "abate" means: "put an end to". But there are no "one-size-fits-all", or "priced by the square foot" solutions. Successful noise abatement can only be accomplished after an assessment of the properties of the noise (frequency, level) and a thorough inspection of the building construction and noise transmission paths. If there is machine noise involved, then the equipment and its ancillary pipes, ducts and other structures must be inspected as well. Only then can recommendations be made that address the particular situation. We invite you to visit the various pages on our site that describe noise problems like yours, or to give us a call.

Noise Code, Noise Violations, Noise Testing

Both the NYC Noise Code and Building Code have provisions to limit noise. Unfortunately, the City DEP inspectors do not yet have the proper meters to enforce all of the provisions, especially those that deal with bass frequencies. We have the equipment and expertise to document any violations of the noise provisions of both codes. We can also make measurements as specified in the codes of other municipalities.

We were involved with a case in which a parking garage was located in the lower levels of a residential building. Banging sounds caused by moving cars in and out of the garage elevator disturbed the residents.

Sometimes the problem isn't noise that leaks out to the neighbors, but a loud, unpleasant acoustic environment inside the restaurant itself. Patrons who have to raise their voices to be heard by their companions may not come back a second time. We can help by designing the right acoustic treatment.

Second floor apartments in New York often have a commercial business as their downstairs "neighbor". Bars, restaurants and nightclubs are a common source of complaints, but retail stores sometimes play loud music as well. And music isn't the only kind of disturbing noise that a business might make. A busy supermarket that gets frequent deliveries and moves stock around can produce banging noises that travel upstairs. Pots and pans clang in restaurant kitchens, dirty plates clatter together in busboy carts and exhaust fans are often mounted improperly.

Some restaurants and catering facilities have expanded their usable space by covering a backyard or courtyard with a tent. It may look like an indoor space, but can transmit sound more like an outdoor space. Yet some of these spaces even have DJs and live music. In dense enough areas, even patron noise and clanking dishes can disturb nearby residents. We can document the disturbance and design more effective sound isolation.

We can measure traffic noise of all
kinds, short
term or long term. This can be especially useful to developers seeking
to show that special district designation is unnecessary, which can save a great deal in construction costs.

We can measure Building Code STC (Sound Transmission Class)
requirements in the field, as well as Impact Noise Reduction (INR) and
Impact Insulation Class (IIC) field tests. We get calls from apartment
and condo owners as well as developers, unfortunately, most of these
calls come after the building has been constructed poorly. We can
document the results and recommend solutions.

Many people call vibration the lower
frequencies or "bass" sound that is not currently measured by city
inspectors, and it can shake your body and apartment. We measure this
and can compare it with the legal limits

A whine or hum, frequently caused by mechanical equipment, is an example of a "pure tone", a sound that is composed primarily of a single frequency or pitch. Such sounds are considered particularly disturbing. They are frequently the result of improper equipment installation. We can measure the noise and recommend solutions.